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| MFMW is among those regularly consulted by the Labour Dept on wage levels for migrants |
The Mission for Migrant Workers has said in a statement that its recent survey showed that 58% of foreign domestic workers (FDW) in Hong Kong receive less than the mandated minimum allowable wage of $4,990.
The statement released Monday was in support of
calls by various community organizations to raise the minimum allowable wage (MAW)
for FDWs to $6,172, while rejecting a call for a freeze in wages by a pro-employers’
group.
The MFMW, the oldest support organization for
migrant workers in the city, also supported calls to raise the food allowance
for those who do not receive free meals from their employers, to $3,123 a month.
Its statement said that its recent research, which has
been updated periodically since 2018, “reveals troubling insights into the wage
levels and financial hardships faced by MDWs.”
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Apart from showing that well over half of the
workers receive less than the MAW, the study also revealed that 14% of those who were underpaid were getting
lower than the previous minimum wage of $4,870 a month.
A big percentage, or 26% of the workers, reported a
negative balance in their monthly expenses, with the average deficit at around
-9%.
On average, over 60% of their income is remitted
abroad, and approximately 23% are burdened with loan repayments. Additionally,
5% incur agency fees, predominantly among new arrivals with less than one year
in Hong Kong.
“These figures highlight that one in four workers
faces expenses exceeding their income, trapping them in a cycle of debt and
financial insecurity,” said the MFMW.
It was regrettable that Hong Kong has excluded FDWs from
the minimum wage law, resulting in their persistently low wages, said the MFMW.
While there is an urgent need to improve the working
conditions and legal protection of FDWs, it is equally critical to address the
longstanding problem over their low pay, added the MFMW.
“Their wages must be increased substantially to
reflect their essential role and to ensure their dignity and financial security,”
said the MFMW’s statement.
